Abuse of skipper on social media blasted

George North has revealed the extent of social media abuse aimed at Wales’ international rugby union players.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones came under fire on social media after England prop Joe Marler, who was banned for 10 weeks, grabbed Jones’ genitals during last Saturday’s Six Nations clash at Twickenham.

Wales wing North, who has scored 40 tries for Wales during a glittering 95-cap career, has often been a target, even surrounding the concussion issues he has experienced.

“To be honest, that social media stuff, it’s a nightmare,” said North.

“It’s a great platform, to be so accessible to fans and vice versa, to sponsors and players alike.

“But the flipside is hard. Someone like Alun Wyn, he gives so much every day and people can just send him something that is not true because they have misread it.

“It wears down on you. He has got a young family and he doesn’t need that when he goes home.

“No one in their right mind would ever say it to his face.

“I don’t understand why he is getting the abuse he is if I am brutally honest.

“If you look at the situation he was put in (at Twickenham), I thought he dealt with it extremely well.

“If they were to come into the environment, see the preparation we are doing, the lengths we go to – not just physically, but mentally – I would hope they would think differently about what they say and do.

“You put yourself in the shop window, you expect to have some of it, but when it is unjust or without any real knowledge or information behind it, it does drain hard.”